‘Blitz’ Review: Steve McQueen’s World War II Film Is Skillful and Touching Yet Almost Shockingly Conventional
Courtesy of Apple TV+
Steve McQueen’s Blitz is a well-crafted WWII drama that focuses on George, a young Black boy evacuated from London during the Nazi bombing, who returns to find his mother. Despite strong production values and heartwarming themes, its conventional storytelling and lack of complexity might leave some viewers wanting more.
Steve McQueen delivers a moving but formulaic take on the London Blitz.
Steve McQueen’s latest film, Blitz, transports viewers to 1940s London, where the German bombing campaign turns daily life into a mixture of survival and normalcy. Through visually stunning cinematography by Yorick Le Saux and a haunting score by Hans Zimmer, the film focuses on George, a 9-year-old boy, and his journey back to the city after being evacuated. McQueen’s direction brings out the desperation and humanity of wartime, but the film surprisingly opts for a more conventional Hollywood-style narrative.
George, played by Elliott Heffernan, navigates a series of encounters that test his resilience while revealing the challenges of growing up without his father, Marcus. Alongside this journey is his mother, Rita (Saoirse Ronan), a munitions worker embodying the “Rosie the Riveter” spirit of wartime Britain. Rita’s portrayal is strong but lacks complexity, staying true to the film’s message of endurance and sacrifice without venturing into darker emotional territory.
Courtesy of Apple TV+
Despite Blitz’s high production quality, some audiences may find the film’s middle-of-the-road approach lacking in moral depth and character intricacy. As George navigates his racial identity and the trauma of war, McQueen gently touches on themes of race and tolerance. The film’s exploration of these subjects, while timely, feels a bit too polished and tidy.
Blitz isn’t short on powerful moments, from the breathtaking recreation of bomb-ravaged London to the small interactions that remind us of the enduring human spirit. Yet, for a Steve McQueen film, it feels unexpectedly conventional, leaning more toward crowd-pleasing, emotionally resonant fare than the darker, more nuanced storytelling his fans might expect.
TCG Score: [4/5] ☆☆☆☆
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